Hammer



J. T. LANE Jan. 7, 1.941.

HAMMER Filed OCT.. 5. 1938 Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates generally to hammers and more particularly to means formed on the sides of the main body of the hammer for receiving and holding nails, brads, tacks, and the like,

while the same are being initially set or started in the Work in which they are subsequently driven.

In various lines of work where hammers are used, it frequently happens that it is necessary to drive nails and tacks at elevated points that can not be conveniently reached by both hands of the workman, one hand being used to hold the nail or tack and the other hand to manipulate the hammer.

This condition is encountered by carpenters and other workmen engaged in the erection of buildings, also by persons engaged in nailing or tacking signs, advertising cards, and the like, on walls, posts, and the like, and, it is the principal object of my invention to provide a hammer having grooves formed in its side faces for the reception of the heads of nails, brads, tacks, and the like, so as to conveniently hold the same while the points thereof are being set or initially driven.

A further object of my invention is, to construct and shape the head receiving grooves in the sides of the hammer so that they will conveniently receive the heads of nails, brads, tacks, and the like, and maintain the latter in practically straight positions extending outwardly at right angles from the side faces of the hammer and which provision greatly facilitates the setting or initial driving operations.

A further object of my invention is, to construct the nail or tack head receiving groove in the side of the head of the hammer so as to effectually prevent the swinging or dropping movement of the nail into an inclined position and, which condition it will be understood interferes to a large extent and in some instances precludes the possibility of imparting the initial drive or setting of the nail or tack.

With the foregoing andA other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a hammer head constructed in accordance with my invention and which head is positioned on a conventional handle.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the hammer head.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of the hammer head.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, II) designates the main body portion of the hammer, which body portion is provided with a vertically disposed aperture II for the reception of the end of a handle I2 and driven into the end of the handle that occupies the aperture I2 is a conventional wedge I3 that functions to expand the end of the handle I2 into the aperture II and thereby secure the hammer head on the handle.

Projecting forwardly from the body I0 is a short cylindrical body I4, the outer portion of which may be slightly enlarged in diameter and the front surface I5 of this enlarged portion serves as the hammer face. The side of the body of the hammer opposite the outwardly projecting body may be provided with a pair of conventional curved or inclined claws utilized for pulling nails and the like, but I prefer to mount on this side of the hammer body a pair of separately formed jaws I6 that are pivoted to the hammer body by a transverse pin or screw I'I and which pivoted jaws are of'the type disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,026,581 issued to me January 7, 1936, on Claw bar.

Formed in the side faces of the body l0 are vertically disposed grooves I8 which gradually decrease in` Width toward their lower ends and said grooves being substantially dovetail in horizontal section. In addition to decreasing in width toward their lower ends, these grooves decrease in depth from top to bottom and as a result of such construction, the inclined bottom surface 2 of each groove terminates with the lower ends of the inclined side surfaces 2| of the groove at a point on the lower portion of the external side face of the body of the hammer.

Thus, when the heads of nails, brads, tacks, or the like, of different sizes are positioned in the groove I3, they will automatically pass downwardly therein until the edges of the heads make contact with the inclined bottom and side surfaces of the groove and said nails, brads, or tacks, will be held in positions substantially at right angles to the side face of the hammer and in which positions they may be conveniently set or initially driven. After being set, the hammer is drawn downward so that the same is disengaged from the nail, brad, or tack, and the latter is now driven under the force of the blow struck by the face l5 of the hammer.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the tapered nail head receiving grooves IB are formed directly in the side portions of the body of the hammer and, in Fig. 6 I have shown a modied construction wherein hardened metal inserts 22, each provided with a tapered nail head receiving groove 23 that is practically identical with the groove I8, are seated in dovetail grooves 24 that are formed in the side faces of the body I0 of the hammer. These grooved inserts may be rigidly secured to the body of the hammer by welding or otherwise.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a hammer having tapered nail head receiving grooves in its side faces and which hammer is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very elective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

Obviously, minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved hammer, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A hammer head provided in the side face of its body with an undercut groove that gradually decreases in depth toward its lower end, the side faces of which groove are inclined in opposite directions, the width of which groove gradually decreases toward its lower end and the lower end of which groove is pointed and terminates on the side face of the body of the hammer head.

JOHN 'IHORNE LANE. 

